32 



ment found myself standing on my head in the snow, 

 some three rods from the colt, and after making seve- 

 ral useless attempts to mount him, gave it up as a bad 

 job, while, by adopting the present plan, in a few 

 moments the colt could have been ridden with perfect 

 safety, just where we wished to go, and if this plan is 

 faithfully pursued, I am sure that any colt can be 

 mounted, and rode, in a few moments, without incur- 

 ring the risk of being pitched upon your head, and 

 learning your colt a habit that will be dangerous, as 

 well as very unpleasant. I say this with great con- 

 fidence, for during nine years' experience with the 

 wildest colts that could be produced, it has never 

 failed in a single case. Before you attempt to mount 

 a colt, it is very important that you teach him the 

 word whoa^ which I claim to be the most important 

 word in horsemanship, and if you wish your horse to 

 learn and obey a word, you must first learn him the 

 meaning of that word, and then only make use of it 

 when you want him to stop. Never use the word 

 whoa to call your horse's attention in the stable, as 

 many persons do, such as, ^^whoa^ get over ; whoa^ 

 hack ; whoa^ come here^^ etc., until the horse gets com- 

 pletely ccnfused with the word, and cannot compre- 

 hend your meaning. Hence the necessity of being 

 uniform in word and act. In fact, if you wish your 

 horse to understand and obey you, you must always 

 be honest, with him — never tell him what you do not 

 mean — never deceive him under any circumstances, 

 but gain his confidence, and never betray it. I would 



